363 
I have known the Scuppernong grape and the wine since my first residence in North Car- 
olina, in 1848, and have met with the bearing vines on the Hatteras sand-spit, on Roan- 
oke island, in its palmy days before the war, through the low country, on the first range of 
hills near Halifax and Warrenton, and in the country around Raleigh, and have never known 
the vine to be subjected to any other treatment or care than to furnish it the support of a 
strong horizontal trellis and allow it to grow ad libitum. The largest specimens of vines I 
remember to have seen were at Jones’s springs, near Warrenton, where three vines covered an 
immense trellis of more than a quarter of au acre, and yielded abundantly. From what I 
have observed of the quality of the fruit, [judge that the Scuppernong responds consider- 
ably to variations in locality, and if the wine ever becomes established in the markets of 
the world, the brand of some localities will gain a marked preference. 
At the risk of being tedious, I will mention a single vine, the fruit of which came under 
my observation the year following the war, 1866, when I was filling the office of United 
States pension agent, at Raleigh. An old lady, past her 80th year, rode into town one morn- 
ing to consult me in reference to the pension laws for the soldiers of J812. She afterwards sent 
me a basket of grapes from her farm. They were purple grapes, but of the Scuppernong 
variety, with its peculiar skin and flavor, and growing single, or in those sparse clusters 
peculiar to this grape. 
I had never before met with what was called the purple Scuppernong which appeared so 
well as or would compare favorably with the white variety inrichness and flavor. The berry 
was of a dark, rich color, round and full, iarger than the ordinary white variety, the skin 
thinner, the pulp smaller, and the intermediate juices much more abundant and more luscious ; 
which last would.seem to be extravagant praise. 
In answer to my inquiries of its history, she told me that many years ago she obtained 
from friends in the ‘‘low country” eight Scuppernong vines, and that when they came to 
the period of bearing seven produced the common white, but this proved to be a purple 
variety. I was so struck with the peculiar richness of this splendid grape that I intended 
to have obtained cuttings for some grape culturists to propagate from, but resigning my office 
and leaving at an unfavorable season, I neglected it. Several interested in the grape culture, 
including Mr. Saunders of your gardens, to whom I have mentioned this vine, have thought 
it worth attention; and I meution it here that you may have cognizance of an individual 
vine which might be worthy of your attention, and might not otherwise come under your 
notice. 
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 
Our San Joaquin correspondent, Dr. E. S. Holden, writes as follows in refer- 
ence to the resources of this county : 
The sectional area of this county is 1,452 square miles, or 929,280 acres; about one-half 
of which is agricultural land, the balance tule and foot hills. The soil is principally adobe 
or clayey, some sections sandy and sandy loam, and on the river bottoms alluvium. The 
reclaimed tule land is deep and rich, almost a perfect compost; and 108 bushels of wheat 
have been raised on this land to the acre. From two to three crops of vegetables can be © 
raised in the year. . 
The sandy sections are producing very large crops of wheat and barley this season, which 
is very wet. Wheat is quite free from disease or smut. Farmers kave generally adopted a 
better system than heretofore, by selecting pure and plump seed, and soaking wheat a few 
minutes in vitriol water. 
Harvesting commenced June 25, about two weeks earlier than usual, owing to a cool 
spring and summer. 
It has been well tested that the soil and climate of this county are perfectly adapted to 
the sure and profitable culture of the semi-tropical fruits, flax, hemp, sugar-beet, sorghum, 
tobacco, mulberry, silk-worm, &e. 
Raising the sugar-beet for sugar is now attracting much attention all over the State; also, 
the sorghum for sirup. The reclaimed tule land, sandy loam, and river bottoms produce zn 
immense crop, and within a few years this State will export these home-made products. j 
The culture of the mulberry, the silk-worm, and the manufacturing of silk will be one of 
the first, if not the first and most profitable, of the industrial arts. The mulberry tree flour- 
ishes well in most of our soils, and the worm is free from disease. Large orders are often 
received from France and Spain for the worms and eggs. 
But little corn is raised in this county. Its culture is confined to the river bottoms. 
Rye is not raised to any amount, not being yet used much in this State. Large crops of 
it can be grown. 
The oat (wild) is indigenous, and found in all sections of the State, on the plains and hill- 
sides. More than one-third of the hay eonsumed is from the wild oat, worth from $10 to $25 
per ton, according to the season. This year $10 is the market price. h 
Barley is the great horse feed, and is usually raised in very large quantities, selling from 
80 cents to $1 per 100 pounds, worth now from $1 30 to $2 per 100 pounds. A small sur- 
face was cultivated this year, farmers preferring to plant wheat. 
